Sister Cities
Remaining Prisoners Conditionally Released – July 26, 2007
Remaining 9 Prisoners Conditionally Released
July 26, 2007
The Judge of the Special Appeals Court in San Salvador granted conditional liberty to the remaining 9 captured in Suchitoto on July 2nd, pending their trail for charges of “acts of terrorism” within three months. Today at approximately 5:15 pm the decision was announced, amidst cheers from hundreds of people awaiting the decision outside the Courthouse.
Starting at approximately 9:00 this morning people began to peacefully gathering in front of the courthouse, and by 10:00 am there were a reported 2000 awaiting the Judge’s decision. The defense lawyers expect the remaining detainees will be released tonight or tomorrow morning, including Marta Lorena Araujo Martínez, Rosa María Centeno Valle, Manuel Antonio Rodríguez Escalante, Héctor Antonio Ventura Vásquez, Vicente Vázquez Bacilio, Marta Yanira Méndez, Clemente Guevara Bátrez, Santos Noé Mancía Ramírez and Patricio Valladares Aquino.
Defense Lawyer Juan Carlos Garcia expressed his satisfaction with the decision, but cautioned that a legal battle still awaits them in order to acquit all 13 of charges of terrorism.
